Machine for assembling laminations

ABSTRACT

A stack of transformer laminations plates are held in a magazine, the lower end of which is provided with a gauging mechanism for admitting passage of single laminations. A layout mechanism is reciprocated beneath the magazine, and it includes a number of spaced picker stations, each provided with a picking surface for engaging the lowermost lamination plate in the magazine and a recess for receiving a selected lamination. In one forward movement, a predetermined number of plates are selected and disposed in laterally spaced relation. On the reverse movement, these plates are gathered into a stack by a stripper member rotatably mounted in front of the gauging mechanism. The stack is seated by the stripper member on an inserter located on the forward end of the layout mechanism. On the next forward movement of the layout mechanism, a second set of plates is selected from the magazine and the set already picked and stacked is delivered into assembled relation with a coil.

United States Patent [191 Macchione 1 June 12, 1973 MACHINE FOR ASSEMBLING LAMINATIONS [76] Inventor: John M. Macchione, P. O. Box 1386,

Haines City, Fla. 33844 22 Filed: July 30,1971

21 Appl.No.: 167,572

52 U.S. Cl 29/203 L 51 1m. (:1. H05k 13/04, B23q 7/06 58 Field of Search 29/203 L, 609, 203 R,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,842,834 7/1958 Macchione 29/609 2,842,838 7/1958 Macchione 29/203 L 9/1960 Macchione 29/203 L Primary Examiner-Thomas H. Eager Att0rn ey.lames J. Hill [57] ABSTRACT A stack of transformer laminations plates are held in a magazine, the lower end of which is provided with a gauging mechanism for admitting passage of single laminations. A layout mechanism is reciprocated beneath the magazine, and it includes a number of spaced picker stations, each provided with a picking surface for engaging the lowermost lamination plate in the magazine and a recess for receiving a selected lamination. In one forward movement, a predetermined number of plates are selected and disposed in laterally spaced relation. On the reverse movement, these plates are gathered into a stack by a stripper member rota tably mounted in front of the gauging mechanism. The stack is seated by the stripper member on an inserter located on the forward end of the layout mechanism. On the next forward movement of the layout mechanism, a second set of plates is selected from the magazine and the set already picked and stacked is delivered into assembled relation with a coil.

13 Claims, 15 Drawing Figures PATENmJumzms v 3731971 I sumanra INVE'IVTOR JOHN M. MACCH/ONE 7.9mm, W,

PATENIEL JUN! 2W5 3 737, 971

sum u 0F 4 IN VE IV TOR JOHN M. MACCH/ONE MACHINE FOR ASSEMBLING LAMINATIONS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a machine or apparatus for assembling transformer laminations, sometimes referred to as lamination plates or simply plates.

A lamination is a flat plate usually having a high content of iron or other magnetizable metal and coated with a electrically insulating substance so that when a number of laminations are stacked in superposed relation in a varying electric field, the amount of eddy current generated in the metal is minimized. Low reluctance paths in many electrical devices such as transformers, chokes, motors, etc. are formed from iron laminations. v

The laminations may be of any arbitrary pattern depending upon the application, although the most frequent shapes are the complementary E and I laminations forming the core and surrounding flux path for transformers and chokes. In some applications, alternate E plates are inserted into the central opening in a coil from alternate directions, and the I plates are placed so as to close the two openings in an E plate, thereby forming a complete flux path about opposite legs of the coil. This is commonly referred to as interleaving.

In another application, a predetermined number of the E plates are inserted in a common direction into the coil opening and then the same number of I plates is brought into abutting relationship with all of the E plates. This is referred to as butt stacking.

My U.S. Pats. Nos. 2,842,834 and 2,842,838 relate respectively to methods and apparatus for applying laminations in an interleaved relation in an open coil to fabricate a transformer core. My US Pat. No. 2,952,072 discloses a butt stacker in which a reciprocating member takes a lamination from the bottom of a stack and inserts it directly into a coil. In this machine there are asmany reciprocations as there are separate laminations in the stack. There is no particular disadvantage to a machine which requires a full reciprocation of the picker mechanism for each lamination inserted into the coil when relatively large laminations are employed such as are found in power transformers for television sets and other home appliances. Lamination sizes are usually specified by the width of the center leg in an E lamination. The width of the center leg is usually twice the width of each end leg so that when the laminations are stamped out, there is no loss of material. The larger lamination sizes mentioned above thus have a center leg dimension in the area of about one-half inch to three inches and larger.

For smaller laminations, machines which require a full reciprocation of the picker mechanism for each lamination inserted have been found to be impractical.

The present invention has particular application to butt stacking of small laminations, although it is not so limited. For example, it has utility in the stacking of larger laminations such as are used in the stators of electric motors used in ignition systems for outboard motors. 1

SUMMARY horizontally reciprocating layout mechanism is located beneath the magazine, and it moves in an elongated pathway from beneath the magazine to a coil station.

The layout mechanism is provided with a number of spaced picker stations, each having a picking surface for engaging the lowermost lamination plate in the magazine and for moving it beneath the gauging surface when the layout mechanism is moved in the first or forward direction toward the coil station. Each lamination that is picked falls into a recess in front of the picking surface. Thus, in one forward movement a number of lamination plates (one for each of the picker elements on the layout mechanism) are selected and laid out in laterally spaced relation.

On the reverse movement of the layout mechanism,

these laterally displaced plates are gathered into a stack by a stripper/stacker which is rotatably mounted adjacent the bottom of the magazine. The front of the layout mechanism is provided with a seat, and after if fully reciprocates rearwardly, the stripper/stacker deposits the stack of plates on the front end of the front seat of the layout mechanism. Thus, on the next forward movement of the layout mechanism, a second set of laminations is laid out, and, at the end of the second forward stroke, the stack of laminations picked on the previous forward stroke are inserted into assembled relation with the coil. A

Both E plates and I plates (or any other shape lamination) may be picked in a similar fashion. Further, the number of laminations that are picked is easily adjusted, either by changing the number of picker stations on the layout mechanism or by varying the length of the forward stroke of layout mechanism.

Other features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent to persons skilled in the art from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment accomplished by the attached drawing wherein identical reference numerals will refer to like parts in the various views.

THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a machine for picking E laminations incorporating the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side view of a coil showing the insertion of a stack of E plates;

FIG. 3 is an end view of a coil with a stack of E plates inserted;

FIG. 4 is a top view of the coil of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a plan view of the machine of FIG. I with portions broken away;

FIG. 6 is a side view of the layout mechanism with portions broken away and showing the gauging function;

FIGS. 7 and 8 are side and plan views of the layout mechanism respectively;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of two picking stations, taken from the upper rear;

FIG. 10 is a frontal perspective view showing the stacking of the E plates after picking;

FIG. 11 illustrates the insertion of a stack of E plates into a coil;

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of an I stacker incorporating the present invention;

FIG. 13 is a vertical cross sectional view of a portion of the machine of FIG. 12 showing the stacking of I plates;

FIG. 14 is a top view of the I layout mechanism; and

FIG. is a perspective view of the delivery member on the front of theI picker layout mechanism of FIG. 14.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Turning then to FIG. 1, there is shown a machine for butt-stacking a predetermined number of E plates into a coil including a base generally designated by reference numeral 10. Secured to the top of a base 10 are first and second sidewall members 11 and 12 which are braced as at 11a and 12a to provide a rigid structure. The sidewalls ll, 12 extend parallel to each other and define a passageway 13 which extends from beneath a magazine generally designated 14 to a coil station generally designated 15. The magazine 14 holds a stack of E plates 16 which are loaded into the magazine from the top and descend under force of gravity to the bottom of the magazine 14 from which they are picked, as will be described presently.

A layout mechanism generally designated by reference numeral 17 in FIGS. 68 is slidably mounted in the passageway 13 for reciprocation between the bottom of the magazine 14 to the coil station 15.

Returning to FIG. 1, a disc-shaped indexing ring 19 is mounted to the base 10 for rotation about a vertical axis, and the ring 19 includes a plurality of beds or depressions 20 for receiving and holding coils of the type shown in FIG. 2 and generally designated 21. The ring 19 carries the coils 21 to an insertion station shown at 22 in FIG. 1 where a stack of E plates is inserted into a coil with the center leg of' the vertically-aligned E plate received in a central opening 23 of the coil 21. An assembled stack of E plates is designated S in FIG. 2, and is shown in a position just prior to assembly.

In FIG. 3, the stack S is seen from the back in an inserted position in the coil 21, and after the E plates are thus inserted, a metallic holder carrying a complementing stack of I plates is then assembled to hold the I plates, E plates and coil in assembled relation. The finished structure of the coil and holder are conventional, the present invention having to do with stacking the E plates and the I plates.

and any suitable mechanism may be used to recipro cate the layout mechanism 17 and extension plate 26; however, I have found that a hydraulicactuated cylinder which brakes at each end of a stroke is most suitable.

In the top of the extension plate 26 there is formed a cam pathway including an inclined or centering camming surface 27 adapted to engage one of the cylindrical cams, such as the one designated a in FIG. 5 so as to index the ring 19 counterclockwise one-half the angular separation between adjacent coils. The cam 25a is then centered in an elongated pathway 28 so that the coil 21a is centered in the central passageway-13 between the sidewalls l1 and 12 and is in position for receiving an assembled stack of E plates. When the layout mechanism 17 and extension plate 26 are reciprocated to the right in the next half-cycle, the cylindrical cam 25a which had been located in the pathway 28 will engage a second inclined cam surface 29 and thus be further indexed counterclockwise to the position 25b. This indexing mechanism then places the following cam 250 in the position previously occupied by cam 25a and the cycle is thus repeated as the extension plate 26 is reciprocated. Other indexing or coil holding mechanisms could be used; but the one just disclosed has been found to be satisfactory, and it does operate in timed relation with the reciprocating layout device, now to be described.

A base plate 30 is mounted on horizontal surfaces formed in the sidewalls 11, 12 and extending along the passageway 13. At the front end '(that is the end facing the coil station) there is mounted an insertion or delivery member generally designated by reference numeral 31 to which a rod 32 is attached for connecting the previously-described plate extension 26. Behind the insertion member 31 there are secured a plurality of individual picker stations 33. Two of the picker stations 33 are shown in perspective view in FIG. 9. The front of the picker stations as illustrated in FIG. 9 is in the upper right-hand corner. Each of the picker stations 33 (and it will be remembered that the particular structure shown is designed for picking E plates) has a generally U-shaped base having upstanding leg members 37 and 38 connected by a lower connecting portion 39. At the front of each of the leg members 37, 38 and toward the center of the U shape are E pickers designated respectively by reference numeral 40 and 41. The tops of the pickers 40, 41 are flat to form lands, as are the front surfaces which are designated 40a and 41a respectively. The rear surfaces of the pickers are inclined as at 40b and 41b respectively. In addition, the outer edges 40c and 41c of the pickers 40, 41 are spaced inwardly from the outer edges of the upstanding leg members 37, 38 to thereby define a space for receiving the outer legs of the E plate, as best seen in FIG. 8 wherein a single E plate is designated by reference numeral 42 and it can be seen to rest on the flat upper portions of legs 37, 38 of the previous picker base, with the outer legs the lamination being located outwardly of the pickers 40, 41. Actually, as seen in FIG. 6, each of the=picker stations 33 selects an associated E plate and since the length of the E plates is slightly greater than the length of a picker station, the E plates overlap in shingled relation. 1

Still referring to FIG. 6, attached to the front edge of the magazine 14 and extending between the parallel legs of the E lamination to engage the front edge of the back leg or heel is a gauging member 45 which, in combination with a seat 46 of the magazine on which the stack of laminations rests, is designed to permit the passage of only a single E plate. The seat 46 has a length about equal to the width of the heel of an E lamination. The front of the legs of the bottommost E lamination rest on a previously-picked lamination. The seat 46 is formed in the bottom of the back of the magazine, and it extends down into the center of the channel formed by the picker stations 33 to permit unimpeded passage of the layout or selection mechanism. The lower edge of the front gauging surface 45 is located at the'height above the seat 46 on which the laminations rest by a distance slightly greater than the maximum tolerance for each of the E plates but less than twice the minimum tolerance so as to permit the passage of only one E plate when a picker station selects the botber 45 preferably is adjustable to facilitate setting of the gauge to the desired height above the seat 46. Further, the seat 46 has a forward depression as at 47 which permits a selected E lamination to drop down to a lower level as soon as the heel of the lamination moves off of the seat 46, thereby causing the entire stack to be lowered the width of a lamination and setting up the next higher lamination for selection by the next passing picker station. The laminations will slant downwardly in the rear as shown in FIG. 6 because the forward edge is resting on a previously picked lamination, although this is not necessary.

Each of the picker stations 33 is provided with an aperture 48 in the connecting portion 39 for receiving a screw 50 in securing that picker station to the baseplate 30. As will be observed from FIG. 6, the first picker station 33a is not provided with picking surfaces and constitutes a blank, and by substituting similar blanks for stations which have pickers, the number of laminations selected per stroke may be varied. An alternative method of varying the number of laminations selected per stroke would be to adjust the backstroke of the layout mechanism.

Turning now to the inserter 31, it is formed, in cross section, in the shape of a U, as are the picker stations, and it is similarly secured by means of threaded bolts 50 to the baseplate 30. Located at the side of the inserter 31 are two cam members 53 and 54. As best seen in FIG. 6 for the cam member 54, these cam members have an upwardly inclined surface 55, the forward surface 58 of which is vertical, leading to seat 56. The forward edge of the cam member 54, together with the seat 56 are adapted to hold an assembled stack of E plates, as can be appreciated from viewing FIG. 11 for insertion into assembled relation with a coil 21. The vertical surfaces 58 act as pushers for an entire stack of laminations to insert it as a unit into assembled relation with a coil.

The plates are stacked by means of a yoke generally designated by reference numeral 60 in FIG. 1 located in front of (i.e., toward the coil station the bottom of the magazine 14. The yoke 60 strips the laid out plates from the layout mechanism, stacking them in reverse of the order in which they were picked; hence, it is sometimes referred to as the stripper stacker or simply stripper. Referring now to FIG. 10, the stripper 60 is pivotally mounted by means of an axle pin 61 to the sidewalls 11, 12 on the top of the base 10 for pivotal motion about a horizontal axis extending transversely of the direction of travel of the layout mechanism. The stripper 60 includes two forwardly projecting fingers 63, 64 which are separated vertically to define a stacking recess 65 for receiving and assembling a stack of laminations. The back of the stacking recess 65 is defined by a vertical stop wall 66.

OPERATION OF E MACHINE In operation, the layout mechanism 17 is first reciprocated in a forward direction toward the coil station 15. In this first cycle or stroke, the picker stations each select the bottom lamination in the magazine 14 as it passes beneath it. Only one lamination per picker station is allowed because the gauging surface 45 restrains the rest of the stack, although the gauging and picker surfaces could be changed to permit more. During this first forward stroke no laminations are inserted into a coil; however, the coil ring 19 is indexed one-half the distance between adjacent coils. At the end of the first forward stroke, a plurality of laminations are laid out in laterally spaced relation on the layout mechanism.

On the first reverse stroke, the stripper 60 is in a lower position so as to gather the E plates which have been picked and layed out in shingled relationship. This stripping/stacking action is best illustrated in FIG. 10 wherein the shingled E plates, shown inchain line are moved toward the upper right-hand corner in a reverse stroke of the layout mechanism and the back of each E plate is engaged by the vertical stop surface 66 of the stacking recess 65. Each E plate is assisted in being lifted out of the depression formed before its associated picker surface (the depression being actually defined by the forward picker station) by means of the tapered rear surfaces b, 41b of the forward pickers 40, 41 respectively. Thus, a rear lamination is forced up the inclined surfaces onto a previous land, and thence on top of a lamination located in a forward position.

As the layout mechanism approaches the rear position of its reverse stroke, the outer legs of the assembled stack of E plates ride up on the cam surfaces of the cam members 53, 54 on the inserter member 31. Thus, the yoke pivots upwardly; and as the layout mechanism reaches the rear position of its reverse stroke, the assembled stack of plates are deposited onto the seating members 56 in front of the pusher surfaces 58.

When the layout mechanism then commences its second forward stroke, the stack of laminations is ready to be inserted into assembled relation with a coil, as schematically illustrated in FIG. 11. In addition, as the layout mechanism proceeds through a second forward stroke, a second set of plates is picked and laid out by the individual picker stations 33. Then, during the second reverse stroke, the second stack is assembled by means of the stripper 60 and deposited onto the forward seating members 56 for subsequent insertion into assembled relation with a coil that, at that time, had been indexed to receive the second stacked set of laminations.

I STACKER Turning now to FIGS. 12-15, the portions of an I stacker relating to the layout, stripping and stacking functions only are shown. The remainder of the machine may include elements similar to those which have been disclosed in connection with the E stacker, except that a stack of I plates is preferably inserted into a metal holder that is then afiixed to the coil, rather than being directly assembled to the coil.

Turning then to FIGQlZ, the magazine is generally designated by reference numeral 100, and it includes a stack of I laminations 101. The magazine is mounted on a base 102 which defines a central passageway 103 in which an I layout mechanism generally designated by reference numeral 104 is reciprocated. The layout mechanism 104 includes a lower slide 105 on which are mounted a plurality of I picker stations 106. Each of the I picker stations 106 is similar in structure and operation to the previously-described E picker stations.

Each of the I picker stations has a general U shape when viewed from the end, including a fiist upstanding leg 108, a central connective portion 109 and a second upstanding leg 110 (see FIG. 14). The I picker stations forwardly of the pusher are secured to the slide 105 in side-by-side relation by means of bolts 111.

Each of the upstanding leg members 108, 110 of the I picker stations is provided with an I picker 112, 113 respectively, the leading edges of which serve as selecting or picking surfaces. The rear of the pickers 112, 113 are provided with inclined surfaces 112a and 113a respectively leading into recesses, the bottom surfaces of which are designated respectively 112s and 1130. The side edges of the pickers 112, 113 extend fully out to the sides of the legs 8, 110 because there is no need to overlap I plates due to their shape.

At the forward end of the slide 105 there is attached a stack delivery member generally designated by reference numeral 120 and seen in perspective in FIG. 15. The stack delivery member 120 includes first and second sidewalls 122 and 123 which terminate at their forward portions in pusher surfaces 122a and 123a respectively. Upstanding members 124 and 125 are provided on the stack delivery member 120 located surfaces 122a, 123a respectively so as to define two side stack-holding crevices 126 and 127- respectively.

The stack-holding crevices 126 and 127 are adapted to receive a stack of I plates, designated S in FIG. 15.

A stripper/stacker member 130 is pivotally mounted by means of a transverse pin 131 to the sidewalls of the base 102 at a position just beneath and forward of the magazine 100. As best seen in FIG. 13, the stripper 130 includes a stack-holding forward cavity or recess 133 for stripping and holding the I plates from their associated recesses in the I picker stations 106 during reciprocation of the I picker or I layout mechanism.

OPERATION OF I STACKER In operation, the first forward reciprocation of the I picker mechanism causes a single lamination to be deposited in the recess before each I picker surface on the picker stations 106, except for the first one, of course, because its associated picker surfaces abut the rear end of the stacked delivery member 120. When the plates are picked, they are laid out in laterally spaced relation as shown in FIGS. 13 and 14, and not in shingled relation as described in connection with the E plates.

On the first reverse cycle of the I layout mechanism, then, the individual plates are stripped from the picker stations by means of the stripper-stacker member 130. An individual I plate is forced up the inclined cam surfaces l12a, 113a onto the upper lands of the forward pickers and thence onto the top of an I plate located in the next forward position.

When the layout mechanism reaches the rear position of its reverse cycle, a stack of plates is delivered into the stack holder recesses 126, 127.

In the next forward stroke of the layout mechanism, the stack of plates S is then brought forward where it may be removed by machine or by hand and placed into a conventional clamp which is adapted to be placed around a stack of E and I plates in assembled relation with a coil to hold them together.

It will be observed that it is not essential that the layout mechanism be the moving part, only that there be relative motion between the layout mechanism and the stack or magazine. That is, in an alternative embodiment, the picker stations could be stationary and the magazine moved relative to it. Further, it may be desirable to include mechanism which would lift the stripper-stacker member to a raised position during a forwaRd or stripping cycle of the picker mechanism so as to avoid interference with the stripped laminations.

Having thus described in detail a preferred embodiment of both E lamination and I lamination stackers, persons skilled in the art will be able to modify certain of the structure which has been shown and to substitute equivalent elements for those which have been disclosed while continuing to practice the principal invention; and it is, therefore, intended that all such modifications and substitutions be covered as they are embraced within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a machine for assembling laminations, the combination comprising: a magazine for holding a stack of laminations; layout mechanism including a plurality of spaced stations each including a picker member, said mechanism being slidably mounted beneath said magazine; drive means for reciprocating one of said layout mechanism and said magazine relative to the other, alternately in a forward and reverse motion, each picker member on said layout mechanism picking at least one lamination from the bottom of the stack as it passes therebeneath in said forward motion; and stripping means actuated during said reverse motion of said layout mechanism relative to said magazine for stripping said laminations from said layout mechanism during said reverse motion.

2. The machine of claim 1 wherein said stripping means includes a yoke defining a stacking recess and pivotally mounted adjacent the bottom of said magazine for engaging the rear of said plates on said layout mechanism during said reverse motion, said layout mechanism further including means for urging each lamination onto the top of a previously picked lamination when thus engaged whereby said laminations are assembled.

3. The machine of claim 1 wherein said layout mechanism includes a plurality of laterally-spaced picker stations, each picker station defining an upwardlyprojecting picker edge for engaging the lowermost lamination in said stack as it passes therebeneath, and a recess for holding a picked lamination at a location beneath the upper edge of said picker edge, each picker station further including inclined surface means and a forward land in front of said recess, whereby as a plate is engaged from the rear, it will be urged forwardly and upwardly of a previously-deposited lamination.

4. The machine of claim 1 further comprising pusher surface means located in front of said picker mechanism, said yoke being adapted to deposit a stack of laminations plates before said pusher surface means, whereby said pusher surface will deliver said stack of plates into assembled relation with a coil on a second forward stroke.

5. A layout mechanism for use in an automatic laminating machine comprising a picker mechanism having a plurality of U-shaped picker stations located in spaced relation, and each including a picker surface for engaging a lamination as the picker mechanism passes relative to the stacked laminations, a horizontal land extending rearwardly of said picker surface, a recessdefining surface behind said land, and an inclined surface leading from said land to said recess, whereby a plate urged from said recess will be lifted up onto said land by said inclined surface and thence. onto the top of a previously-picked lamination.

6. The structure of claim wherein each of said picker stations comprises a general U-shaped member with upstanding side leg members to provide two picking surfaces, each upstanding leg member being pro- .vided with a rearwardly-extending land, an inclined cam surface and a recess behind said cam surface, said picker mechanism thereby defining a central channel for reciprocation with a mechanism for stripping the plates from their associated recesses and stacking them on forwardly-located laminations.

7. Apparatus for assembling a plurality of E laminations for insertion into the coil in abutting relation with a corresponding stack of l laminations comprising: a magazine for holding a stack of laminations; a reciprocating layout mechanism for reciprocation beneath said magazine and including a plurality of picker stations, each having-a picker surface adapted to engage the lowermost lamination of said stack when passing beneath said magazine; means associated with said magazine for gauging the number of laminations passing therefrom; whereby a plurality of laminations are selected in one stroke of said layout mechanism and deposited thereon in laterally spaced relation; and means for stripping said plurality of laminations from said layout mechanism after said plurality of laminations has been selected from said stack.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein each of said pickers includes picker surfaces spaced inwardly of the outer legs of an E lamination placed thereon, the top of each picker surface leading into a horizontal land, a depression located beneath an associated horizontal land surface for receiving the back leg of an E plate, and an inclined surface for urging the back leg of an associated E plate from said recess onto said land and thence onto a previous E plate when said layout mechanism is reversed.

9. The machine of claim 8 characterized in that the distance between adjacent picker surfaces on said layout mechanism is less than the width of an E lamination, whereby said laminations are deposited on said layout mechanism in shingled relation, the parallel legs of one E plate resting on a previously-picked E plate.

10. The machine of claim 9 further comprising an inserter member at the forward end of said layout mechanism and adapted to receive a stack of E plates from said stripper means when said layout mechanism is reciprocated to a rear position, said inserter member being adapted to insert a stack of E plates into assembled relation with a coil upon the next subsequent forward stroke of said layout mechanism.

11. A machine for stacking and inserting l laminations comprising a magazine adapted to receive a stack of 1 plates; a layout mechanism reciprocally mounted beneath said magazine and including a plurality of spaced picker surfaces, each picker surface engaging the bottommost lamination of said stack when said layout mechanism is reciprocated beneath said magazine, said layout mechanism further defining a transverse depression before each of said picker surfaces whereby a picked lamination will fall below the top edge of its associated picker surface when selected; and lifter means associated with each of said recesses for raising a picked I plate from said recess onto the top of a previously picked I plate when said 1 plates are urged forwardly of their associated picker surfaces.

12. The machine of claim 11 further comprising stripper means actuatable when said layout mechanism is reversed in direction to gather said plates from their associated recesses and deposit each plate onto a previous plate in reverse of the order in which said plates were picked.

13. The machine of claim 11 further comprising an inserter member at the forward end of said layout mechanism for receiving a stack of I plates from said stripper mechanism when said layout mechanism is at the rear position of its stroke. 

1. In a machine for assembling laminations, the combination comprising: a magazine for holding a stack of laminations; layout mechanism including a plurality of spaced stations each including a picker member, said mechanism being slidably mounted beneath said magazine; drive means for reciprocating one of said layout mechanism and said magazine relative to the other, alternately in a forward and reverse motion, each picker member on said layout mechanism picking at least one lamination from the bottom of the stack as it passes therebeneath in said forward motion; and stripping means actuated during said reverse motion of said layout mechanism relative to said magazine for stripping said laminations from said layout mechanism during said reverse motion.
 2. The machine of claim 1 wherein said stripping means includes a yoke defining a stacking recess and pivotally mounted adjacent the bottom of said magazine for engaging the rear of said plates on said layout mechanism during said reverse motion, said layout mechanism further including means for urging each lamination onto the top of a previously picked lamination when thus engaged whereby said laminations are assembled.
 3. The machine of claim 1 wherein said layout mechanism includes a plurality of laterally-spaced picker stations, each picker station defining an upwardly-projecting picker edge for engaging the lowermost lamination in said stack as it passes therebeneath, and a recess for holding a picked lamination at a location beneath the upper edge of said picker edge, each picker station further including inclined surface means and a forward land in front of said recess, whereby as a plate is engaged from the rear, it will be urged forwardly and upwardly of a previously-deposited lamination.
 4. The machine of claim 1 further comprising pusher surface meanS located in front of said picker mechanism, said yoke being adapted to deposit a stack of laminations plates before said pusher surface means, whereby said pusher surface will deliver said stack of plates into assembled relation with a coil on a second forward stroke.
 5. A layout mechanism for use in an automatic laminating machine comprising a picker mechanism having a plurality of U-shaped picker stations located in spaced relation, and each including a picker surface for engaging a lamination as the picker mechanism passes relative to the stacked laminations, a horizontal land extending rearwardly of said picker surface, a recess-defining surface behind said land, and an inclined surface leading from said land to said recess, whereby a plate urged from said recess will be lifted up onto said land by said inclined surface and thence onto the top of a previously-picked lamination.
 6. The structure of claim 5 wherein each of said picker stations comprises a general U-shaped member with upstanding side leg members to provide two picking surfaces, each upstanding leg member being provided with a rearwardly-extending land, an inclined cam surface and a recess behind said cam surface, said picker mechanism thereby defining a central channel for reciprocation with a mechanism for stripping the plates from their associated recesses and stacking them on forwardly-located laminations.
 7. Apparatus for assembling a plurality of E laminations for insertion into the coil in abutting relation with a corresponding stack of I laminations comprising: a magazine for holding a stack of laminations; a reciprocating layout mechanism for reciprocation beneath said magazine and including a plurality of picker stations, each having a picker surface adapted to engage the lowermost lamination of said stack when passing beneath said magazine; means associated with said magazine for gauging the number of laminations passing therefrom; whereby a plurality of laminations are selected in one stroke of said layout mechanism and deposited thereon in laterally spaced relation; and means for stripping said plurality of laminations from said layout mechanism after said plurality of laminations has been selected from said stack.
 8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein each of said pickers includes picker surfaces spaced inwardly of the outer legs of an E lamination placed thereon, the top of each picker surface leading into a horizontal land, a depression located beneath an associated horizontal land surface for receiving the back leg of an E plate, and an inclined surface for urging the back leg of an associated E plate from said recess onto said land and thence onto a previous E plate when said layout mechanism is reversed.
 9. The machine of claim 8 characterized in that the distance between adjacent picker surfaces on said layout mechanism is less than the width of an E lamination, whereby said laminations are deposited on said layout mechanism in shingled relation, the parallel legs of one E plate resting on a previously-picked E plate.
 10. The machine of claim 9 further comprising an inserter member at the forward end of said layout mechanism and adapted to receive a stack of E plates from said stripper means when said layout mechanism is reciprocated to a rear position, said inserter member being adapted to insert a stack of E plates into assembled relation with a coil upon the next subsequent forward stroke of said layout mechanism.
 11. A machine for stacking and inserting I laminations comprising a magazine adapted to receive a stack of I plates; a layout mechanism reciprocally mounted beneath said magazine and including a plurality of spaced picker surfaces, each picker surface engaging the bottommost lamination of said stack when said layout mechanism is reciprocated beneath said magazine, said layout mechanism further defining a transverse depression before each of said picker surfaces whereby a picked lamination will fall below the top edge of its asSociated picker surface when selected; and lifter means associated with each of said recesses for raising a picked I plate from said recess onto the top of a previously picked I plate when said I plates are urged forwardly of their associated picker surfaces.
 12. The machine of claim 11 further comprising stripper means actuatable when said layout mechanism is reversed in direction to gather said plates from their associated recesses and deposit each plate onto a previous plate in reverse of the order in which said plates were picked.
 13. The machine of claim 11 further comprising an inserter member at the forward end of said layout mechanism for receiving a stack of I plates from said stripper mechanism when said layout mechanism is at the rear position of its stroke. 